2018 was an exceptional year for gaming, and looking back I can say that I’ve had some truly amazing experiences; from blockbuster releases like Battlefield V to unexpected gems like Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales. The year isn’t over yet, and December has a few surprises in store for those who enjoy under the radar games. If you’re a sucker for balls to the wall action games, then Rico returns to scratch that itch. Retro gaming fans can enjoy 20 oldies on the PlayStation Classic, and Nintendo Switch players have a stack of games gaming their way next month. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 players get treated to new Specialists releasing in December, and Destiny 2 players can look forward to the Black Armory opening on December 4.
Related: Under the Radar Games we Cannot Wait to Play
PlayStation Classic
Releasing: 7 December 2018
The PlayStation Classic releases worldwide on December 3, with an expected South African release date of December 7. It is 45% smaller than the original 1994 version and releases with 20 games and two controllers. Some of the titles are epic classics like Grand Theft Auto, Final Fantasy VII, Metal Gear Solid, Rayman, Resident Evil, and lots more. You can check out the full list of games here.
The PlayStation Classic is a great Christmas gift for the gamer in your life, and you can purchase it from the following local retailers for R1799: Raru, Takealot, Loot, and BT Games.
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Battlefield V – Tides of War (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Releasing: 4 December 2018
December sees the first big update for Battlefield V as Tides of War releases across all three platforms. It brings themed experiences of World War 2 to Battlefield V. Overture starts with the fall of Europe and includes timed events for players. These events include special assignments and missions as well as Operations events.
Rewards for completing events include new vehicles and weapons, dog tags and emblems, face paint, and soldier and weapon skins. One of the most important features of Tides of War is that it unlocks new archetypes for all the classes. War Stories’ final episode, The Last Tiger also releases as well as a new multiplayer map: Panzerstorm, the Practice Range, and Vehicle Visual Customization. Then on December 6 the first limited-time assignments and progression features for Tides of War Overture kicks off. If you’re still on the fence about playing Battlefield V then check out our Xbox One X review and Battlefield V: The South African PC Experience.
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Just Cause 4 (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Releasing: 4 December 2018
Rico’s next adventure promises to be even bigger and badder than its predecessor. Just Cause 4’s Solis will have a smaller map than Medici, but with bigger landmass. According to the developer, Avalanche Studios, it is “the most diverse and dangerous world” they have ever created. Players can sow mayhem across four districts, and Rico has to not only contend with (yet another) mad leader/military group but also with tornadoes, blizzards, sandstorms and more. A first in the franchise. Talk about tornadoes, you can’t hunt these in the Storm Chaser
In Just Cause 4 Rico responds to a distress call from someone in Solis which sets him on a path of confrontation with the Black Hand, a paramilitary group ran by one Gabriela. Rico’s journey also takes a very personal twist as he discovers some secrets about his past in Solis. Other than the dynamic weather systems, upgraded AI and improved physics and animations systems, it’s still the signature Just Cause action game fans love.
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Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales (PS4, Xbox One)
Releasing: 4 December 2018
I reviewed Thronebreaker on PC, and it is one of the best games I’ve ever played. It is a story about family, betrayal, friendship, loyalty, and courage. At first glance, you might dismiss it as just another adventure game or a spin-off of the popular Gwent collectable card game, but it is so much more. It’s a multi-layered adventure laced with political intrigue and strategy, and it often calls on you to make the most difficult decisions. The adventure, the story, the card game; it all comes together as a beautifully crafted masterpiece.
You play as Meve, Queen of Lyria and Rivia, who is forced to give up her throne and flee from the lands she once ruled. Your journey takes you through five lands, each unique and beautiful in its own way. Thronebreaker is a card game based on Gwent, but with significant differences. It’s a richly layered game and I highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys a fantastic story and adventure games – you will even enjoy it if you’re not a fan of card games.
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Beholder 2 (PC)
Releasing: 5 December 2018
Beholder 2 is one of the few surprises I stumbled upon as I searched for the December video game releases. The art was the first thing that got my attention and then the lure of playing another quirky puzzle game. The official description reads; “You are a newly employed department officer within the Ministry of a totalitarian State. While you are poised to have an illustrious career and possibly become Prime Minister someday, the way up won’t be easy. So, how high up the career ladder will you climb? The choice is still yours to make!”
At its heart, Beholder 2 is an adventure game with strong puzzle-solving mechanics and time management systems. What I can gather from the Steam description is that you can advance your career in The Beholder in different ways. The most obvious being through hard work, but then you can also be a “whistle-blower” or a brutal opportunist. Intriguing.
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Iris.Fall (PC)
Releasing: 7 December 2018
Iris.Fall is another Indie title you might want to give a second look. Again, the game world, characters, and art look absolutely fascinating. It’s as if an exceptionally talented artist invites you to enter his slightly mad yet oddly alluring world. He is possibly high on some hallucinogenic. There is something in the screenshots that both repulses and attracts, and I cannot pin this odd sensation it leaves me with down. All I know is that I want to explore its world.
It is again an adventure, puzzle game set in “a world full of mystery and wonder.” You play as Iris, a young girl that follows her cat into a dilapidated theatre. Everything is, of course, not as it seems, and I think the Cat is behind it all (not really). A game for Unit 7 and I.
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Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Switch)
Releasing: 7 December 2018
New fighters, including Inkling from the Splatoon series, Ridley from the Metroid series, Castlevania’s Simon Belmont and Isabelle from Animal Crossing, make their Super Smash Bros. series debut alongside every Super Smash Bros. fighter in the series…EVER!
Have a blast trying to launch your opponents off the stage in the ultimate action game. Faster combat, new items, new attacks, new defensive options, techniques and more will keep the battle raging whether you’re at home or on the go. Multiple modes and options mean everyone can play. In Smash, select your stages, set the rules and play with up to eight players total. Or, create a team of three or five fighters and take on your opponent’s squad one by one in Squad Strike. And that’s just the beginning!
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PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PS4)
Releasing: 7 December 2018
It’s finally happening although it might be a case of too little too late. If you pre-order PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds for PS4 then you unlock two exclusive items; Nathan Drake’s outfit from the Uncharted series and Ellie’s backpack from The Last of Us. Those who pre-order any of the digital versions also get a PUBG avatar and theme. Hurrah.
PUBG will launch on the PlayStation 4 with three maps; Erangel, Miramar, and Sanhok. It includes all the major features like event mode, achievements, and the ranked system. The game requires a PlayStation Plus subscription and is also PS4 Pro Enhanced and includes support for High Dynamic Range (HDR) lighting on compatible TV’s.
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Video Game Releases for December Week 1
- ROCK BOSHERS DX: Director’s Cut: Switch on 01/12
- Demetrios – The BIG Cynical Adventure: Switch on 03/12
- Hearthstone: Rastakhan’s Rumble: PC on 04/12
- Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom: PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One on 04/12
- Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden: PS4, Xbox One, PC on 04/12
- Override: Mech City Brawl: PS4, Xbox One, PC on 04/12
- Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight: PS4 on 04/12
- Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight: PS4 on 04/12
- Persona Dancing: Endless Night Collection: PS4 on 04/12
- Subnautica: Xbox One, PS4 on 04/12
- Son of a Witch: Switch on 05/12
- Energy Cycle Edge: Switch on 05/12
- Jagged Alliance: Rage!: PS4, Xbox One, PC on 06/12
- SEGA Mega Drive Classics: Switch on 06/12
- The Last Remnant Remastered: PS4 on 06/12
- Hello Neighbor: Hide And Seek: PS4, PC, Switch on 07/12
- Katamari Damacy Reroll: Switch, PC on 07/12
- YO-KAI WATCH 3: Switch on 07/12
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Video Game Releases for December Week 2
- Guacamelee! 2: Switch on 10/12
- EVERSPACE Stellar Edition: Switch on 11/12
- Soldam: Drop, Connect, Erase: PS4 on 11/12
- Insurgency: Sandstorm: PC on 12/12
- GRIS: PC, Switch on 13/12
- Dragon: Marked for Death: Switch on 13/12
- Starman: Switch on 13/12
- SEGA AGES Phantasy Star: Switch on 13/12
- Hunter’s Legacy: Purrfect Edition: Switch on 13/12
- Borderlands 2: PSVR on 14/12
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Video Game Releases for December Week 3 & 4
- Funghi Puzzle Funghi Explosion: Switch on 20/12
- Nightshade／百花百狼: Switch on 20/12
- Fitness Boxing: Switch on 21/12
- Abyss: Switch on 25/12
What will you be playing this holiday season?
